UPDATE: Couple charged in child sex case to be arraigned

A man and his former girlfriend charged with making an arrangement involving sex with a minor through Facebook are scheduled to be arraigned in Smyth County, Virginia General District Court.

Richard Lee Cruey, 41, and Laura Cindy Thompson, 38, both of Marion, will be in court on March 7, according to court information obtained by News 5.

Both were arrested last week and charged with one count of use of communication systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. Cruey is also facing charges of conspiracy to commit forcible sodomy.

Police said the pair had communicated on the social media site about the illicit act with what investigators said involved a 10-year-old female. The message was discovered by another person and that information was given to a Smyth County school resource officer.

Sheriff Chip Shuler said his officers intervened before any harm came to the intended victim.